3 liquor sting offenders get licenses

Dec. 27, 2013

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It’s a big time of year for liquor sales, but the City Council almost barred one Sioux Falls business from selling in the new year.

Councilors debated at their last meeting how to handle businesses that get caught selling to minors and fail to follow the city’s rules when it comes time to renew their license.

The Sioux Falls Police Department does the compliance checks, visiting each seller at least twice a year. They hire underage people, from age 18 to 20, and have them attempt to buy alcohol — usually beer — using their state-issued IDs.

Three retailers failed in the past year. The Gas Stop at 4600 W. 41st St. was caught out of compliance in March, the Sudanese General Store at 623 W. 11th St. in April, and King’s Liquor Mart at 4200 W. 41st St. in August.

Before their annual license to sell liquor can be renewed, the city requires the owners to come before the City Council to explain how it happened and what they’ve done to address the issue.

The council heard from two of the three businesses at its Dec. 17 meeting. Councilors were split about what to do when the owner of the Sudanese General Store didn’t show up.

The council considered putting off the license renewal until a representative from the store came before the council. The earliest that could happen would be Jan. 7, leaving the Sudanese General Store unable to sell liquor for the first week of January.

Councilor Rex Rolfing said the council hasn’t done that in the past and it wouldn’t be fair to the Sudanese General Store.

“It doesn’t feel right,” he said.

Councilor Kermit Staggers agreed and noted that the owner, because he is Sudanese, might not be aware fully of all the rules.

Councilor Jim Entenman said the owner was asked to show up at the council meeting and needs to follow the rules.

“It’s his responsibility as a citizen and as a businessperson to abide by what the rules are,” Entenman said.

The council considered voting separately on whether to renew the license for the Sudanese General Store. It took a tie-breaking vote from Mayor Mike Huether to decide not to single out the business for not being present.

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The council ultimately decided to renew all three licenses, but asked that someone from the Sudanese General Store come to the next council meeting. Store manager Ayiei Ayiei said he will be there.

This was the first time the Sudanese General Store failed a sting in its four years of business. Ayiei said he was the one who made the sale and that he’s watching more closely now.

The Gas Stop representatives said the employee who made the sale was fired. The company typically cards anyone who appears 40 or younger, they told the council, and employees who pass the sting get a bonus on their next paychecks. The representative from King’s explained that they decided to keep the employee, but they changed procedures.

Businesses that fail are fined $500, according to state law. The clerk who makes the sale faces penalties as well. For the first offense, the clerk’s driver’s license is revoked for at least a month.

The city also requires offending businesses submit an alcohol sales management plan. The Sudanese Store filed its plan last month.

The most recent sting, on Dec. 17, turned up four businesses that sold to a minor.